Ekiti guber: Oyebanji’s support base widens, as Fayose’s ally, others defect to APC 

By Omotayo Olatunde
Ado Ekiti

Support base for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the June 18 election, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, widened at the weekend as top leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government of Ekiti State led by former member of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Olusanya Aladeyelu, defected to APC ahead of the governorship poll. 

Aladeyelu, who is also a close political ally of former Governor Ayodele Fayose, led scores of PDP leaders and members to APC at a ceremony held at Eyio-Ekiti and attended by top APC chiefs, including the APC governorship candidate, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji; APC State Chairman, Paul Omotoso; former State Chairman, Chief Jide Awe; former Publicity Secretary and BAO Campaign spokesman, Taiwo Olatunbosun; State Secretary, Garba Arogundade; Financial Secretary, Bamidele Fatile; State Treasurer, Rufus Olajide; and the Chairman of APC in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Opeyemi Ogundele. 

Others are Acting State Women Leader, Caroline Egunjobi, Idowu Afuye, Eyio Ward Chairman, Emmanuel Agbogunleye; among other leaders and hundreds of party supporters. 

Olatunbosun described Oyebanji as a home- grown politician having had all his education in Ekiti State as well as holding several positions of authority that allowed him to be conversant with the needs of Ekiti people, noting that such background had drawn Oyebanji to the hearts of Ekiti people as the right man for the governorship position.

Ogundele described Aladeyelu as a “big fish” in Irepodun/Ifelodun APC as a former PDP staunch member who had made strong impacts in the growth of PDP as well as  among the people of the Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government. He assured that his impact would greatly enhance the fortunes of APC. 

The Director General of BAO Campaign Organisation, Cyril Fasuyi, described Aladeyelu as a strong politician that had made his mark among his people. He urged residents to join the new member to take APC to greater heights, assuring that he and other defectors would be treated equally as the old members of the party, even as he assured that the dividends of democracy would be enjoyed by all. 

Omotoso, who received Aladeyelu  and other defectors into APC, urged members and supporters  to prepare for the June 18 poll, stressing that it is important to keep their voter’ cards to enable them vote. He praised  the defectors for their courage to join the winning party and assured that the dividends of democracy would be enjoyed by all after victory. 

Explaining the reason for defecting to APC, Aladeyelu said he had tasted both sides of party politics in Ekiti State, stressing that APC represented the greatest hope for the actualisation of Ekiti people’s dream for development. 

He described Oyebanji as “the son of the soil” who deserved the support of Eyio people and the state in general for his honesty, generosity,  discipline and vision as a young man for the greatness of Ekiti State. He assured that his people had expressed willingness to support Oyebanji to ensure his victory in the June 18 poll. 

Oyebanji described Aladeyelu as very important to him in life having demonstrated honesty in his first encounter with him, explaining that it was that relationship that propelled the new member to join him in APC. He assured that the abandoned Eyio road would be reconstructed to ease the transportation need of the residents.